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Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery #0.5
Hour is Come
HOUR IS COME IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO READERS WHO JOIN MY MAILING LIST. Visit VictoriaTait.com
A dead husband. A hidden body. Can an inexperienced amateur sleuth save herself and identify a killer in the stroke of time?
Young military widow, Dotty L Sayers, just wants to take life one day at a time, with the help of Banff, her husband’s black Labrador. Seeking financial security, she excitedly accepts a temporary job in a local Cotswold auction house. But she realises she can’t accept everything at face value when she discovers a dead body inside a grandfather clock.
While the police focus on jealousy and blackmail, there’s no time to lose if Dotty is to prove her husband’s ex-wife’s innocence. This determined novice detective unveils her colleagues’ secrets, but when the police ignore her findings, she realises she may be wasting her time.
As the clock ticks, can Dotty convince the police of her suspicions, or is she living on borrowed time?
Hour is Come is the entertaining prequel to the Dotty L Sayers Antique Mystery series. If you like captivating whodunits, believable characters and charming British locations, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s page-turning tale.
Download Hour is Come before the clock strikes today!
A dead husband. A hidden body. Can an inexperienced amateur sleuth save herself and identify a killer in the stroke of time?
Young military widow, Dotty L Sayers, just wants to take life one day at a time, with the help of Banff, her husband’s black Labrador. Seeking financial security, she excitedly accepts a temporary job in a local Cotswold auction house. But she realises she can’t accept everything at face value when she discovers a dead body inside a grandfather clock.
While the police focus on jealousy and blackmail, there’s no time to lose if Dotty is to prove her husband’s ex-wife’s innocence. This determined novice detective unveils her colleagues’ secrets, but when the police ignore her findings, she realises she may be wasting her time.
As the clock ticks, can Dotty convince the police of her suspicions, or is she living on borrowed time?
Hour is Come is the entertaining prequel to the Dotty L Sayers Antique Mystery series. If you like captivating whodunits, believable characters and charming British locations, then you’ll love Victoria Tait’s page-turning tale.
Download Hour is Come before the clock strikes today!
240 pages, ebook
First published March 1, 2022
11 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Tait
48 books329 followersHi, would you like to download Hour is Come, the FREE prequel to my Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series?
If so visit https://bookfunnel.victoriatait.com/s... or visit my website https://www.victoriatait.com
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. I've drawn on my life’s experiences of following my military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.
My determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and my settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.
If so visit https://bookfunnel.victoriatait.com/s... or visit my website https://www.victoriatait.com
I was born and raised in Yorkshire, England, and never expected to travel the world. I've drawn on my life’s experiences of following my military husband, and a love of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Murder She Wrote, to write British-based cozy mysteries.
My determined and hard-working female sleuths are joined by colourful but realistic teams of helpers, and my settings are vivid and evocative. As you’re compelled to keep turning the pages, you’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world of intrigue, surprises, and humour, as well as a delectable helping of mystery, because tea and intrigue are a perfect blend.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
April 5, 2022
Hour is Come Earns 5/5 Grandfather Clocks…Engaging and Compelling Cozy!
Twenty-eight years old is too young to be a widow, and even though the military is compassionate, her husband’s colleagues offer their deepest sympathies, and the other military wives, including her friend Morag McGill, are there to help her, she is at a loss of what life will look like now as a civilian. Her husband’s military pension won’t be enough to provide a living wage, so, despite a lack of qualifications, she’ll need to find a job.
Dotty’s grief is made complicated by her late husband’s ex-wife Angela Sayers over money. Essentially Angela made her bed by leaving Al for another man, and now is finding it hard to lie in it with no legal claim to any death benefits. She asks Dotty anyway for some support for her late husband’s children, and Dotty sees, or at least is manipulated to see, some validity in offering some money to the care for her late husband’s children. She agrees to offer some of the furniture she owns for auction, but stops short of giving up Banff, the black Labrador who is now her only companion.
Overzealous Angela with her appraiser/friend, Georgina “George” Carey-Boyd in tow, show up unannounced to start tagging relevant items, and the next day, the lorry drivers arrive to pick up the furniture for auction. Afraid she hadn’t carefully checked a chest of drawers for her husband’s things, so she heads over to Akemans Antiques to make sure. She’s greeted with condolences and allowed into the warehouse to check for any personal items. She finds the dresser, but is overwhelmed by a horrific odor…dead rodents? Losing her balance in such a crowded space, she falls into a grandfather clock…oops, it’s not mice. It’s the body of the missing office manager.
Strike of Success! I became a fan of Victoria Tait’s writing when reading her Kenya Kanga Mystery series, and I am so excited to give a big thumbs up to her new Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series! This prequel book introduces a delightful young woman whose new life as a widow has also brought about a sense of “freedom.” She’s still struggling with some loneliness at home, but she is enjoying her working at the antiques center, making friends, and learning the nuisances of an exciting auction community. Dotty also has found, through unofficial means, that helping the novice Constable Varma is exciting, liberating in a way, and she just might have a knack for uncovering secrets. Along with a clever mystery fraught with lots of questions, curious details, and a bit of peril, Dotty has an important decision to make about her future. That’s the cliffhanger…what does she decide?
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Twenty-eight years old is too young to be a widow, and even though the military is compassionate, her husband’s colleagues offer their deepest sympathies, and the other military wives, including her friend Morag McGill, are there to help her, she is at a loss of what life will look like now as a civilian. Her husband’s military pension won’t be enough to provide a living wage, so, despite a lack of qualifications, she’ll need to find a job.
Dotty’s grief is made complicated by her late husband’s ex-wife Angela Sayers over money. Essentially Angela made her bed by leaving Al for another man, and now is finding it hard to lie in it with no legal claim to any death benefits. She asks Dotty anyway for some support for her late husband’s children, and Dotty sees, or at least is manipulated to see, some validity in offering some money to the care for her late husband’s children. She agrees to offer some of the furniture she owns for auction, but stops short of giving up Banff, the black Labrador who is now her only companion.
Overzealous Angela with her appraiser/friend, Georgina “George” Carey-Boyd in tow, show up unannounced to start tagging relevant items, and the next day, the lorry drivers arrive to pick up the furniture for auction. Afraid she hadn’t carefully checked a chest of drawers for her husband’s things, so she heads over to Akemans Antiques to make sure. She’s greeted with condolences and allowed into the warehouse to check for any personal items. She finds the dresser, but is overwhelmed by a horrific odor…dead rodents? Losing her balance in such a crowded space, she falls into a grandfather clock…oops, it’s not mice. It’s the body of the missing office manager.
Strike of Success! I became a fan of Victoria Tait’s writing when reading her Kenya Kanga Mystery series, and I am so excited to give a big thumbs up to her new Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series! This prequel book introduces a delightful young woman whose new life as a widow has also brought about a sense of “freedom.” She’s still struggling with some loneliness at home, but she is enjoying her working at the antiques center, making friends, and learning the nuisances of an exciting auction community. Dotty also has found, through unofficial means, that helping the novice Constable Varma is exciting, liberating in a way, and she just might have a knack for uncovering secrets. Along with a clever mystery fraught with lots of questions, curious details, and a bit of peril, Dotty has an important decision to make about her future. That’s the cliffhanger…what does she decide?
Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
January 15, 2023
Received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers for a honest review. A well written book, with good character development. Cannot wait to see the next adventure for Dotty.
November 24, 2022
Dotty Sayers has her hands full. Her military husband died leaving her to handle her finances on her own. Dotty isn’t used to handling these things on her own. It doesn’t help when her husband’s ex-wife wants the money for herself and her children.
The ex-wife convinces Dotty to sell her furniture to the local auction house. Much to Dotty’s delight, she’s offered a job at the auction house. Things don’t go as well as she hoped when she discovers a dead body in a grandfather's clock. One of the main suspects is her late husband’s ex-wife. Dotty decides to do a little investigating on her own, but the police aren’t paying any attention to her.
This is a prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. The prequel is only available through the author’s newsletter. Although it’s a prequel, it’s 240 pages and a full mystery story.
I really enjoyed this author’s writing. The book had the feel of a classic, traditional mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie. I didn’t figure out “whodunit” and I loved that the author kept me guessing.
I fell in love with Dotty right away, although she can be a bit timid. I did see signs of character growth and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of it in future books. This series is off to an excellent start.
Disclosure: I received this free e-book through the author’s newsletter. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The ex-wife convinces Dotty to sell her furniture to the local auction house. Much to Dotty’s delight, she’s offered a job at the auction house. Things don’t go as well as she hoped when she discovers a dead body in a grandfather's clock. One of the main suspects is her late husband’s ex-wife. Dotty decides to do a little investigating on her own, but the police aren’t paying any attention to her.
This is a prequel to the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery series. The prequel is only available through the author’s newsletter. Although it’s a prequel, it’s 240 pages and a full mystery story.
I really enjoyed this author’s writing. The book had the feel of a classic, traditional mystery along the lines of Agatha Christie. I didn’t figure out “whodunit” and I loved that the author kept me guessing.
I fell in love with Dotty right away, although she can be a bit timid. I did see signs of character growth and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of it in future books. This series is off to an excellent start.
Disclosure: I received this free e-book through the author’s newsletter. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 2, 2024
Hour is Come is the introductory novella for the Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, so really didn't know what to expect.
As you might imagine, from the name of the main character, the author is clearly a fan of classic murder mysteries, there's also a nod to characters from Dorothy L. Sayer's books. This is a contemporary mystery, although it has the feel of a classic murder from an earlier time. I think that it probably helps that Dotty is rather naive. The mystery centres around a body that has been concealed in a grandfather clock, before falling at Dotty's feet meaning that she has little choice but to try and solve the mystery.
I hadn't got to the bottom of all of the twists and turns by the end of the story, although I was well on the way. This was a fun read and one that really worked to introduce a new series. I haven't started any of the following books as yet, but I would like to follow Dotty and see what comes next. I have a feeling, that in the style of all of those other classic whodunit books out there, she may well find herself with another dead body before much longer!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
As you might imagine, from the name of the main character, the author is clearly a fan of classic murder mysteries, there's also a nod to characters from Dorothy L. Sayer's books. This is a contemporary mystery, although it has the feel of a classic murder from an earlier time. I think that it probably helps that Dotty is rather naive. The mystery centres around a body that has been concealed in a grandfather clock, before falling at Dotty's feet meaning that she has little choice but to try and solve the mystery.
I hadn't got to the bottom of all of the twists and turns by the end of the story, although I was well on the way. This was a fun read and one that really worked to introduce a new series. I haven't started any of the following books as yet, but I would like to follow Dotty and see what comes next. I have a feeling, that in the style of all of those other classic whodunit books out there, she may well find herself with another dead body before much longer!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Voracious Readers. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.
August 9, 2023
This sweet story is a prequel, to introduce us to Dotty Sayers and the following series of her capers in the world of antiques. Charming and fun cozy mystery, colourful characters, and sharply plotted. Super enjoyable and looking forward to getting into the rest of the series.
April 1, 2022
This is a great start to a promising new series by Victoria Tait. It's free for her newsletter subscribers (which is how I got mine). When I finished, I went and pre-ordered the remaining 3 books. I'm looking forward to seeing Dotty continue to gain confidence and develop friendships. I think cozy mystery lovers will enjoy Hour is Come.
June 21, 2024
What a delightful book. My first book by Victoria Tait but certainly not my last. Antiques and mystery - what better combination could there be? Follow Dotty as she comes out of her shell after being protected and overshadowed by the men in her life. After the death of her husband she quickly comes into her own and helps figure out who killed Gail. I enjoyed it so much I read it all in one sitting.
Read
December 3, 2024I loved this book from the prologue onwards The main character was very well written and it kept me guessing throughout. I immediately reread it because not only was it a great book I wanted to check for clues missed. I have already told my friends what great writer she is and have since read A Fake death I shall enjoying following this series
December 23, 2024
An exceptional cozy mystery! Enjoyable plot line, well-developed characters, and quality writing. The author obviously crafted this with care; I hope the series continues along the same vein as I enjoyed it so much, I purchased the next five books in the series!
January 19, 2023
This is the first cozy mystery I have read from this author, and I was introduced to her when I received a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only to review. Having read quite a few cozy mysteries from other authors, I found this to be one of the best-written so far and the characters very believable. I especially enjoyed seeing how Dotty grew from being a timid pushover lacking in self-confidence into a much more independently minded person. It certainly makes me want to read more of the books in this series.
Read
April 22, 2024In Hours Has Come, The prequel to the Dottie Sayers antique mystery books by Victoria Tate is a great way to begin her sleuthing adventures. We first meet Dottie at the gravesite of her beloved Al her husband who was older taciturn and had lots of opinions but now he’s gone and now he’s left her his dog his ex-wife and two kids. Dottie was never close to his first wife Angela who left him while he was on patrol in Africa for another man but now that there’s money to be had she’s back when she learns Dottie is an giving up any of her inheritance she then turns to the furniture her and Al once owned to sell it that now belongs to Dottie because Dottie is a softy she lets her. This is also how Dottie comes to be at the Acme antique house she gets along with the owner Gilly so well Gilly offers her a job something the widow is happy to take even after finding the dead assistant in the grandfather clock it also puts her in a perfect position to learn more about the investigation that her ex Angela is being accused of because the deceased who is seeing Angela‘s partner behind Angela‘s back. With Dottie on the case the cats walls will never be the same again. My only regret when it comes to this prequel is that I couldn’t listen to it on audio it is seven Scotland and her husband was a member of the regional Scotland army and it’s just a great starter that I cannot wait to read the next book of recently started enjoying Cozy mysteries in this one is a great one I haven’t been this excited about a series since Susan whiners school-age rock mysteries. I am definitely reading the rest of these books and totally recommend this one. I received the book from voracious readers only for free but I’m leaving this review of my own volition please forgive any mistakes I am blind and dictate my review.
March 6, 2022
The author generously sent me this prequel to read. Many thanks Victoria!
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
It introduces you to her newest character, Dotty Sayers.
I quite like her! She has recently lost her husband who was KIA. As a military wife, she is actually quite naive. However, this gives her lots of opportunities to grow and develop.
She finds a job at an antiques auction house and immediately gets involved in a murder by discovering a body in a grandfather clock.
Victoria writes in a way that is very easy to read and keeps the reader engaged.
I am looking forward to Dotty's adventures and development in future books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read.
It introduces you to her newest character, Dotty Sayers.
I quite like her! She has recently lost her husband who was KIA. As a military wife, she is actually quite naive. However, this gives her lots of opportunities to grow and develop.
She finds a job at an antiques auction house and immediately gets involved in a murder by discovering a body in a grandfather clock.
Victoria writes in a way that is very easy to read and keeps the reader engaged.
I am looking forward to Dotty's adventures and development in future books.
June 17, 2024
I was given a copy of this book for an unbiased review.
I am a lover of cosy mysteries and Victoria Tait knows all about giving that to the reader. What a perfect story to set up the series. You meet Dotty at a very trying time in her life where a lot of change is happening.
The story is written in the classic who dunnit style that makes you constantly changing who you think did it and rooting for various characters.
I really enjoyed this read and I’m excited to see what other adventure Dotty gets up to!
I am a lover of cosy mysteries and Victoria Tait knows all about giving that to the reader. What a perfect story to set up the series. You meet Dotty at a very trying time in her life where a lot of change is happening.
The story is written in the classic who dunnit style that makes you constantly changing who you think did it and rooting for various characters.
I really enjoyed this read and I’m excited to see what other adventure Dotty gets up to!
March 6, 2022
This prequel by Victoria Tait introduces Dotty L. Sayers, a new amateur sleuth, not by her choice but circumstances she has to unravel a murder when she finds a body. This is a great beginning to this new series. The characters are so real and recognizable, the settings interesting and the plot delightful in the twists and suspense. I loved the Kenya Kanga series and this one is shaping up to be just as compelling.
May 12, 2022
I love Dotty. She comes off as shy, reserved. But she is smart, just don't have enough confidence in herself. I've read Fake Death and that was my first time becoming acquainted with Dotty. All the characters are quaint and unforgettable.
March 14, 2023
Dotty's military husband has just died and she is offered a job at an antique auction house. While going through the antiques a dead body is found in a grandfather's clock. Someone obviously killed the woman and Dotty is determined to find out who did it.
April 2, 2022
Victoria Tait is a wonderful writer of cozey mysterys with a little mayhem and murder and so this delightful awakening of personal growth of a young army widow days after burrowing her husband comes across a dead body while trying to retrieve some of her husband's belongings from an auction house.To find out more about the colorful and intriguing characters and get acquainted with the mysterious happenings enfolding in this exciting cozey you must acquire " Hour is Come" so you yourself can enjoy this new series as much as I have. Kat
July 23, 2022
Review forthcoming.
August 20, 2022
This is a witty fun read. She had me hooked at the beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat till the end. Her characters feel like old friends,and you can't wait to see what they do next. Just when you think to you've solved the mystery she just might surprise you.
Can't wait to read the rest of of the series.
I received my copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
Can't wait to read the rest of of the series.
I received my copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only.
January 25, 2023
This was my first free book from Voracious Readers. I’m excited about all the offers I’ve received for sending me books to read and review. This was an easy read. Not too long but a unique story line. The characters became familiar as you learn their back stories, hardships and successes. Story line is not complex but keeps your interest. Looking forward to reading more from Victoria Tait.
Read
August 5, 2024Enjoyable read, intriguing to the end. Will definitely read more in this series.
March 8, 2022
I like the Dottie books. They are full of fun facts in addition to fun & whimsical people…….easy but attention keeping reads. It’s fun watching the plots unfold & trying to guess the culprits.
March 9, 2022
Really enjoyable book & characters. Can’t wait to read the next one.
August 13, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed being swept into the drama of this modern ‘Miss-Marple-ish’ murder mystery! I’m looking forward to the next book to continue this series.
May 30, 2023
I got this book through Voracious readers and it was a beauty. I liked the different characters that got rounded out as the book progressed.The development of Dotty as she became more self assured, and I can see it turning into a very readable series. I particularly liked the pace of the book, apart from the fact I kept going back for "just one more chapter"
This is my first 5 score
This is my first 5 score
March 21, 2022
I don't read many cozy mysteries but will make an exception for Victoria Tait's books after enjoying the Kanga series so much.
Victoria's writing style takes you with her in her books. Her characters are generally easy to like.
Dotty's late husband seems to have run everything in their lives and it's nice to see her emerging from shell as the story goes on.
This is an easy read and ideal between the usual crime novels I read.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
Victoria's writing style takes you with her in her books. Her characters are generally easy to like.
Dotty's late husband seems to have run everything in their lives and it's nice to see her emerging from shell as the story goes on.
This is an easy read and ideal between the usual crime novels I read.
I received an ARC of this book from the author in return for an honest review.
April 11, 2022
If you like Agatha Raisin mysteries you'll love this book. A very enjoyable read
October 10, 2024
I listened to this story of Dotty and how the loss of her husband, a military hero, affected her choices and the ways in which she had allowed people, like her father and the military 🪖, to take control of her life.
I found myself feeling frustrated and even angry (that comes from my own experiences of losing control of my own life by not standing up for myself) at Dotty as she continued to allow people to push her around as she tried to get her life in order while semi-grieving (she may have cared for her husband, but I don't believe she was given even autonomy to love herself or anyone else, except their dog).
The military supports, although intended as kindness, were forcing her hand to take their offer of a home and work options as a way to decide what they believed to be best for her.
She didn't even know what she wanted to do since she was numb without having made any of the decisions about her life on her own. Even her husband's first wife was able to guilt her into thinking more about Angela's needs over her own. I felt such a visceral anger towards Dotty for allowing her to put aside her own needs for survival by thinking more about what Angela and others needed.
I took a break after a third of the way through the book 📖 and after 2 or more weeks, when I got back to the book, I felt calm and more rational. Lol At this point, Dotty was starting to think more clearly about what she wanted and needed to be able to get a new start on her life.
I started to enjoy this character since she began thinking about what mattered to her. After not being permitted to make these choices, I understood her mindset a little better, again recognizing a little of my former problems in her.
She turned down what were meant to appear as kindness from family, but would have been like being locked away in a prison, albeit a different one than the one she'd lived in with her husband.
She accidentally took on a short-term job helping out an auction house after finding a dead body, and some of her sleuthing and cleverness began to surface.
As Dotty began to make friends, even while feeling uncomfortable about having responsibilities and the feelings of incompetence one has to overcome during the learning process, she began to grow and develop feelings of independence and becoming stronger in her decision-making process.
I started to like who this character was becoming, noticing her ability to deal with people and solve problems in a business setting grow, as well as her strength as a friend and observant detective.
The rest of the story rolls out in positive and interesting ways as she befriends an overly chatty and clumsy constable and others during the lead up to an auction event that leads to her need to consider her future. It ended well before I expected and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.
I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars 🌟 and I think it's not only because of how much I related to the main character at the lowest point in her life, but also because I didn't enjoy how weak the author portrayed the main character, despite the growth she later went through.
I found myself feeling frustrated and even angry (that comes from my own experiences of losing control of my own life by not standing up for myself) at Dotty as she continued to allow people to push her around as she tried to get her life in order while semi-grieving (she may have cared for her husband, but I don't believe she was given even autonomy to love herself or anyone else, except their dog).
The military supports, although intended as kindness, were forcing her hand to take their offer of a home and work options as a way to decide what they believed to be best for her.
She didn't even know what she wanted to do since she was numb without having made any of the decisions about her life on her own. Even her husband's first wife was able to guilt her into thinking more about Angela's needs over her own. I felt such a visceral anger towards Dotty for allowing her to put aside her own needs for survival by thinking more about what Angela and others needed.
I took a break after a third of the way through the book 📖 and after 2 or more weeks, when I got back to the book, I felt calm and more rational. Lol At this point, Dotty was starting to think more clearly about what she wanted and needed to be able to get a new start on her life.
I started to enjoy this character since she began thinking about what mattered to her. After not being permitted to make these choices, I understood her mindset a little better, again recognizing a little of my former problems in her.
She turned down what were meant to appear as kindness from family, but would have been like being locked away in a prison, albeit a different one than the one she'd lived in with her husband.
She accidentally took on a short-term job helping out an auction house after finding a dead body, and some of her sleuthing and cleverness began to surface.
As Dotty began to make friends, even while feeling uncomfortable about having responsibilities and the feelings of incompetence one has to overcome during the learning process, she began to grow and develop feelings of independence and becoming stronger in her decision-making process.
I started to like who this character was becoming, noticing her ability to deal with people and solve problems in a business setting grow, as well as her strength as a friend and observant detective.
The rest of the story rolls out in positive and interesting ways as she befriends an overly chatty and clumsy constable and others during the lead up to an auction event that leads to her need to consider her future. It ended well before I expected and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.
I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars 🌟 and I think it's not only because of how much I related to the main character at the lowest point in her life, but also because I didn't enjoy how weak the author portrayed the main character, despite the growth she later went through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2023
What a gem! Found this book via Voracious Readers Only and really enjoyed it.
Great paced book, the story raced ahead whilst introducing the characters at different points, allowing you to get to know them. Dotty - the main character - was at times maddening. Newly widowed and alone for the first time as an adult, at first she appears shy, placid and reserved. Allowing events and people to just wash over her. Gradually as the story develops, so does Dotty and I am very much looking forward to reading more of these stories.
Light-hearted fun little murder mystery.
Great paced book, the story raced ahead whilst introducing the characters at different points, allowing you to get to know them. Dotty - the main character - was at times maddening. Newly widowed and alone for the first time as an adult, at first she appears shy, placid and reserved. Allowing events and people to just wash over her. Gradually as the story develops, so does Dotty and I am very much looking forward to reading more of these stories.
Light-hearted fun little murder mystery.
March 28, 2022
The main character, Dotty Sayers, does finally come to life but in the first chapters, unlike the real Dorothy Sayers, this lady is a wimp. Growing up in an army family she's been so docile that she's never made a decision, never handled money, never paid a bill. She meekly marries the man her father tells her to and finds her husband just as controlling -- which is maybe why she rarely thinks of him again in this story.
Widowed now at 28, she's financially helpless and waffles at every decision. When her husband's ex-wife comes to her home and sends a lot of her furniture to an auction mart --"You don't need all this stuff and I need the money for the children" -- she meekly signs it over. When an employee of the auction mart tells Dotty they're short-staffed and she must fill in as their receptionist, she obeys. A ten-minute course on their computer system on her first working day and she's ready to start; she carries on even though the head honcho snaps at her and insults her.
Crime investigation procedures are bizarre. Police taking the report of a dead body as a joke, sending a constable who knows so little about working a crime scene... And later, to Dotty, "Why don't you come with me: I have to find Marion and take her statement. We can pretend we're discussing police matters."
Dotty helps the officer do forensic tests and find evidence. Not searching the clock, losing evidence, constable and inspector discussing the case, including victim's banking info, in front of potential suspects. Interviewing witnesses in the presence of all employees. All no-nos! And how big is this clock that a body fits inside, along with all the works?
Dr Peter Wimsey, who displays the rather nonsensical persona of Lord Peter, is asked by the detective to estimate the time of death. His answer: "At least three days, maybe four or five from the smell." To me, using the name and character of Peter Wimsey borders on copyright violation, especially with Dorothy Sayers as the MC. Will Sir Impy Biggs show up yet, too?
Little by little they get it sorted out, but it's an incredible tale. If readers are willing to suspend belief and don't mind far-fetched procedures, it's a light read and definitely written in an interesting way.
Widowed now at 28, she's financially helpless and waffles at every decision. When her husband's ex-wife comes to her home and sends a lot of her furniture to an auction mart --"You don't need all this stuff and I need the money for the children" -- she meekly signs it over. When an employee of the auction mart tells Dotty they're short-staffed and she must fill in as their receptionist, she obeys. A ten-minute course on their computer system on her first working day and she's ready to start; she carries on even though the head honcho snaps at her and insults her.
Crime investigation procedures are bizarre. Police taking the report of a dead body as a joke, sending a constable who knows so little about working a crime scene... And later, to Dotty, "Why don't you come with me: I have to find Marion and take her statement. We can pretend we're discussing police matters."
Dotty helps the officer do forensic tests and find evidence. Not searching the clock, losing evidence, constable and inspector discussing the case, including victim's banking info, in front of potential suspects. Interviewing witnesses in the presence of all employees. All no-nos! And how big is this clock that a body fits inside, along with all the works?
Dr Peter Wimsey, who displays the rather nonsensical persona of Lord Peter, is asked by the detective to estimate the time of death. His answer: "At least three days, maybe four or five from the smell." To me, using the name and character of Peter Wimsey borders on copyright violation, especially with Dorothy Sayers as the MC. Will Sir Impy Biggs show up yet, too?
Little by little they get it sorted out, but it's an incredible tale. If readers are willing to suspend belief and don't mind far-fetched procedures, it's a light read and definitely written in an interesting way.
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